Forget about Vince Carter or the Toronto Raptors holding the key to unlock the age of enthusiasm in Canadian basketball.

If the door is to be open, it will be thanks to the American Basketball Association’s Calgary Drillers.

Calgary has dribbled into the semi-pro realm before with the Calgary 88s' - World Basketball League (1988-1992) reaching the finals three times – and the short-lived Calgary Outlaws (1994 National Basketball League), but this time around their success on the hardwood will be of greater importance.

Despite one of the largest expansions in North American semi-pro sports history, 28 teams this past summer, the 35-team A.B.A. has secured several major media outlets and with that in mind, some reassurance.

The Drillers, who will play in the Stampede Corrall, will probably have one of the strongest ABA rosters thanks to owner/coach Otis Hailey. Hailey has the longest tenure of professional basketball coaching on Canada soil having called plays for the Montreal Dragons, Saskatchewan Hawks and the Vancouver Nighthawks.

Hailey was an assistant coach with the ABA's Tijuana Diablos last season.

"This is where I want to finish my coaching career," says Hailey of the city of Calgary and the ABA franchise. "Calgary has strong support for (semi-professional) basketball in the past and I have nothing but positive vibes about the community and it’s support.

"There are a lot of knowledgeable fans here in Calgary plus a strong base of Americans living here from places like Dallas and Houston."

Hailey, a coaching veteran of 30 years who first came to Canada from Bakersfield, California in the 1980s' to play for the traveling comedy squad the Harlem Clowns, said there will "probably be Canadian player(s) on the team," but added, "we will not keep a Canadian player just for sake of having one just on the principle that they are Canadian. If he makes the team he will be on it because he deserves to be."

Canadians mentioned include 6-foot-1 Jamie Charlton (University of Saskatchewan Huskies and Midwest Basketball Association Buffalo City) and former national team member 6-foot-0 Novell Thomas who also played semi-pro with the Buffalo City Thunder.

Names already mentioned for the Calgary team include former NBA Vancouver Grizzly and Washington Wizards veteran 6-foot-5 Lawrence Moten (Syracuse), 6-foot-6 James Penny (Texas Christian University and USBL Oklahoma Storm, 2004 leagues 6th leading scorer 19.7 and sixth in blocked shots 1.6) 6-foot-10 Kelly Wise (U of Memphis and CBA Grand Rapids Hoops) and Andre McCollum (a 1999-2000 International Basketball Association All Star and basketball gypsy who has played in the CBA, NBDL and most recently overseas in Israel).

Hailey also mentioned former NBA players Todd Day and DeJuan Wheat signing possible deals.

Add to the mixture the hiring of Ruby Richman, a legend in Canadian hoops, as General Manager and you have a strong base.

With 2005 expansion slated for a possible 16 teams, including Vancouver and possibly Montreal, look for Edmonton, Saskatoon and Winnipeg to return to the semi-pro scene.

Alberta has had the Outlaws, 88s’, Alberta Dusters (Lethbridge, Continental Basketball Association) and the Edmonton Skyhawks (NBL) and this past summer the Ontario Professional Basketball Association made an attempt at stimulating the game north of the 49th parallel but quickly folded.

"We will be playing in by far the strongest division (Red/West)," says Hailey of the 11-team division which includes teams in, among other places, Los Angeles (Stars) Las Vegas (Rattlers), Long Beach (Jam) and Portland (Reign). "The fans will be entertained...we guarantee that"

The Drillers open their season on Nov. 16 hosting the Utah Snowbears a team Hailey had tentatively signed on to coach last April before relocating to Calgary.